A Bosnian war-crimes suspect recently living in Burlington has been released from prison while he awaits his federal court trial.

Edin Sakoc, 54, of Riverside Avenue is charged with lying to immigration authorities by denying involvement in war crimes during the conflict in Bosnia two decades ago. He has denied the two charges.

Judge William K. Sessions III agreed to release Sakoc into the custody of a friend, Thomas Tailer, after he testified Thursday that he was willing to be responsible for Sakoc.

Sakoc, a Bosnian Muslim, is accused of raping a Serb woman in July 1992, aiding in the killing of two elderly relatives she was caring for and burning down the house they were staying in, court records state. The relatives were the woman’s mother and aunt, the U.S. Justice Department said.

Sessions initially ruled July 29 that Sakoc, who was unemployed, posed a substantial risk of flight and that he was “charged with an extraordinarily serious offense.”

The judge overturned his earlier ruling Thursday after the defense put together a sufficient plan to ensure Sakoc’s appearance at court, while also protecting the community, according to Federal Public Defender David McColgin, who is part of the defense team.

Sakoc has “tremendous support from the community. He’s a peaceful person,” McColgin said. He said the government’s case is not as strong as first thought.

Co-counsel Steven Barth and McColgin filed a 19-page motion with 27 pages of supporting letters and documents. The motion, letters and documents are heavily redacted in several area to prevent the public from knowing the representations made on Sakoc’s behalf to Sessions.

Sakoc, who previously lived in Barre, became a naturalized citizen in September 2007. He later moved with his wife and six-year-old daughter to Burlington.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Eugenia A.P. Cowles in Burlington said the prosecution was still strongly opposed to any release.

Sakoc’s initial lawyer, Robert Behrens of Burlington had won his client’s release on July 26, a Friday, but the defendant’s family was unable to deliver both his passports to the court before it closed for the weekend.

The following Monday, before Sakoc could be released, prosecutors filed a motion to have him detained. He remained in custody until Thursday.

Sessions issued a ruling in October declaring it a “complex case,” which means both sides will get extra time to prepare for trial.

Sessions has said he believes prosecutors in Vermont must prove Sakoc participated in the cited war crimes to show he lied to immigration authorities when he disavowed any involvement.

The prosecution said Sakoc was interviewed in June and admitted being at the scene of the rape and murder in Bosnia in 1992. Witnesses, including the rape survivor, also placed Sakoc there, Cowles told the court during the summer.

Behrens said in July the charges Sakoc were more than 20 years old. Behrens said his client has been in Vermont since 2001 with no problems except a minor case that was sent to court diversion.

Behrens offered the court two letters from supporters. He also noted a family had offered to allow Sakoc, his wife and their 6-year-old daughter to move into their home, and the family promised to report any violation of conditions of release.

Sessions, in his initial decision to hold Sakoc noted he owned two properties in Bosnia and faces deportation if convicted.

The government has said Sakoc had traveled to Bosnia five times since 2001.

Authorities say Sakoc repeatedly lied about his past war crimes while applying to become a U.S. citizen, as well as when he applied for refugee status in March 2001.

Contact Mike Donoghue at 660-1845 or mdonoghue@burlingtonfreepress.com. Follow Mike on Twitter at www.twitter.com/FreepsMikeD.